Residents of Calabar have decried the increase in the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), saying that Nigerians are in a state of economic hardship.
In separate interviews, the residents said the fuel hike would increase the hardships already being faced by Nigerians, as well as the immediate increase in essential commodities, including transportation.
Recall that NNPC Retail Management had on Tuesday approved an upward review of the pump price from N617 per litre to N897 a litre, with NNPC stations immediately adjusting their pumps and totems (price boards), reflecting the new PMS price of N897 as against N617 per litre.
The hike, which came amidst lingering scarcity of the product in the nation, has been attributed to claims by NNPCL that it owed its suppliers more than $6 billion.
Dr Efio-Ita Nyok said before now, cost of living was high for Nigerians but the trajectory was showing that it would be harder as the increment would have an all-round, overwhelming, negative consequences.
Mr Nyok said immediately the pump price was increased, every other thing including the price of transportation increased.
“It is annoying that the price of goods and services, interest and inflation rate, fee for unity schools, tariff for power among others are all increasing without a commensurate increase in the earnings of Nigerians.
“This shows that Nigerians are in for a very long and bumpy ride.
“While the present situation is unfortunate, I am not totally surprised because this administration did not promise much during the campaigns,” he said.
Similarly, Mr John Nsan, a farmer, said increasing the pump price meant creating a more inflationary situation in the nation.
He said that the hike in price would lead to more hardship as a result of increase in price of goods and services and this would double the suffering of the average Nigerian.
“When the product was sold for N591 in NNPCL retail stations, others were selling for between N850 and N950 here in Calabar and things were already difficult for the people. How much will they sell it now that it is sold officially for almost N1,000?,” he asked.
Our observation shows that there has been a marginal decrease in the number of vehicular movements in the city with more people choosing to trek some distance to cut costs.
Also, the few stations selling petrol sell for between N950 and N1000 per litre, while commercial transport operators have increased their fares.
(NAN)
